 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Saints Row 2
- Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Windows
- Price: $59.99
- Genre: Third-person shooter
Common Sense Media says
Brutal GTA-like gangster game -- not for kids.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this game isn't intended for children. It features extreme violence in the form of bloody murders carried out with guns, bats, blades, cars, and a variety of other potentially lethal implements. It's also a stage for excessive profanity, drug and alcohol use, and intense sexuality, including missions that require the player to move the controls in rhythm with specific sexual acts. What's more, unlike some other games in the genre, the protagonist never shows hesitation or remorse. Indeed, he or she (players can choose to play as either a man or a woman) often deliberately chooses the most violent means possible of carrying out missions -- declaring such methods "more fun" at least once -- and appears to take pleasure in homicide.
What's it about?
SAINTS ROW 2, like its predecessor, is an adult game not meant to be consumed by younger players. Its gangster-themed play, which takes place in a free-to-roam game world, features intense violence, profanity, and sexuality. The protagonists murder for fun and are concerned with only one thing: increasing the presence and influence of a gang called the Saints in the town of Stilwater. That said, it can be entertaining for older players with a taste for the sort of dark humor found in adult-oriented gangster films, such as those made by directors Quentin Tarantino and Guy Ritchie. There's a dash of offbeat comedy in the words and actions of the game's main characters that manages to keep them on the right side of likeable, despite their criminal nature. The bulk of the action involves hijacking cars and driving through a large city en route to criminal missions that range from trafficking drugs to ferrying prostitutes to dispatching rival gangs.
Is it any good?
If it sounds a lot like the Grand Theft Auto(GTA) games, that's because it is. But it has several traits that distinguish it from Rockstar Games' popular franchise, for both better and worse. Example: Whereas GTA protagonists typically have complex motives and are sometimes conflicted about their evil acts, Saints Row 2's main characters are basically one-dimensional bad guys. Their only driving force is personal gain and the growth of their gang. It would have been nice to play as a character with just a hint of scruples. Still, Saints Row 2 does do some interesting things in character creation. Players have the ability to customize the appearance of their avatar, changing body type, facial features, race, and even gender. Playing as a tough as nails woman gangster with several hardboiled men under her command is a strange -- but not unappreciated -- step towards gender equality in a genre in which women more often than not are relegated to the role of prostitute or nagging girlfriend.
Other differences between Saints Row 2 and its competition in the sandbox gangster category are essentially just small, evolutionary steps forward for the genre. For instance, players can pick up random objects like cinder blocks and barrels and use them as weapons. They also have to be wary of some non-player characters, who are capable of defending themselves with cans of mace and tasers, which can immobilize your gangster for long seconds. While features like these won't sell a game on their own, they do help give this dark, adult-oriented criminal fantasy its own distinct flavor. (Saints Row 2's primary rival at the moment is Grand Theft Auto IV, another gangster game targeted at mature players.)
What families can talk about
Families can talk about criminal behavior. What do you think drives a person to become a gangster? Do you think that the bloodthirsty, merciless gangsters seen in this game are authentic? Or do you think real gangsters are more complex, that they engage in most criminal acts out of a perceived sense of need or honor? It seems unlikely that characters like those that appear in the game could be dissuaded from continuing their brutal ways, but can you think of anything that could be done to help real gangsters change their lifestyle?
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AGE
Appropriate?
Question: Do you think I should be allowed to play saints row 2 at age 14? My mom only dislikes how it's gangster related
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AGE
I play this game and it doesn't encourage me to kill police officers to advance the plot except for the prison escape mission. You don't even need to kill cops. I go through most missions involving cops except for the jailbreak mission without killing a single cop. They aren't much of a concern and the game provides no bonus for killing "clean" cops. I say it like that because most cops are in the pocket of a major company, but most are just people trying to get their shift over so they can go home.
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AGE
just get this version
just get the platinum hits version it has no sex mini game and sounds of people in the act and plus it has not as much violence.
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AGE
Its sad
This game is just one of the many games that feed the bad moral fires that bad parenting ensues. There are too many little kids that play these games. its sad...
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AGE
Not such a bad game after all
I personally think that this game is one of the best games you can play. Some other members say that the game has "Too much sexual content, use of drugs, or foul language." But that is mostly because they have had a negative outlook on this game from the start. All you have to do is tell your children that they should not be looking up to the characters in the game and that what they do is very bad and anyone who does this will go to prison for a very long time so you should not try to rein-act the events in the game. And if they have played rated "M" games before then it's not like it's anything they haven't been exposed to before. I am just saying this because i was in their position a few times as a child and i know what it's like.
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AGE
A Toned Down Version of GTA IV
This game is far less violent compared to Grand Theft Auto IV. Basically the entire game is like a toned down version of its counterpart. There is fare less swearing violence, nudity etc. I would recommend a teenager to play this over Grand Theft Auto any day.
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Kid, 11 years old
June 9, 2011
AGE
driving cars
its awesome
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AGE
portrays criminal behavior as normal Only appropriate for adults Lots of sex , drugs and prostitution + N-word and constant F bombing. Random violence on innocent people also if you know its a game and the no remorse is not the norm, its ok. no way for pre high school kids.
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AGE
As a twelve year old i play a LOT of M games this is one of the games that can be put off for kids under 12, my parents dont care what i play as long as i repeat or do anything thats in the game
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AGE
awsome
i like it because it is a fun game.
And u should trust us we know whats
good and whats bad its not like we are going to do that stuff.
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| Platforms: | Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Windows |
| Available online? | Available online |
| Genre: | Third-person shooter |
| Developer: | THQ |
| Release date: | October 14, 2008 |
| Price: | $59.99 |
| ESRB rating: | M for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs |
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